Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Fisheries and Oceans
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 15, 2007
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day at 10:47 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Cochrane, Comeau, Cowan, Hubley, Robichaud, P.C. Rompkey, P.C. and Watt (8).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to rule 88.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Robichaud moved that the Honourable Senator Rompkey do take the chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Rompkey took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved that the Honourable Senator Cochrane be deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Watt moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Adams moved:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Robichaud moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved:
That the committee asks the Library of Parliament to assign analyst Claude Emery to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cowan moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
(1) determine whether any member of the committee is on ``official business'' for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
(2) consider any member of the committee to be on ``official business'' if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Adams moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure would examine practices and the approval process for televised proceedings and report its findings to the committee.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure would examine the conflicts created by the existing time slots, in particular, the start time for the Tuesday evening and report its findings to the committee.
The Honourable Senator Rompkey moved:
That the committee approve that the following order of reference be moved in the Senate:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be authorized to examine and report on issues relating to the federal government's new and evolving policy framework for managing Canada's fisheries and oceans;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished by the committee on the subject during the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than Friday, June 27, 2008.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved:
That the motion be amended by replacing the word ``new'' with the word ``current.''
The question being put on the motion, in amendment, it was adopted.
At 11:01 a.m., the committee proceeded to consider its future business.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure would meet to discuss the committee's focus and report its findings to the committee.
At 11:46 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 29, 2007
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day in camera at 10:50 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Bill Rompkey, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Campbell, Cochrane, Comeau, Cowan, Hubley, Robichaud, P.C. and Rompkey, P.C. (9).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda.
It was moved:
That the committee, perhaps in concert with the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources and the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture, propose to the leadership of the Senate that a committee work week be established during the week of May 12-16, 2008, and, that the above-mentioned committees attempt to coordinate travel to the Arctic during this time frame.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure would further explore the proposed committee themes under the Arctic study, those being:
1. Science/Research
2. Catching capacity
3. Facilities/infrastructure
4. Coast Guard/presence/enforcement
At 12:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Lynn Gordon
Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 6, 2007
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day at 10:47 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Bill Rompkey, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Campbell, Comeau, Cowan, Peterson, Robichaud, P.C. and Rompkey, P.C (7).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 21, 2007, the committee began its study on issues relating to the federal government's current and evolving policy framework for managing Canada's fisheries and oceans.
WITNESSES:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada:
David Bevan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management;
Wendy Watson-Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science;
Savithri Narayanan, Dominion Hydrographer, Director General, Ocean Sciences — Canada Hydrographic Service;
Sylvain Paradis, Director General, Ecosystem Science.
The chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Watson-Wright and Mr. Bevan made a presentation and, with Ms. Narayanan, answered questions.
At 12:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
François Michaud
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 11, 2007
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day at 6:19 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Bill Rompkey, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Cochrane, Comeau, Cowan, Hubley, Robichaud, P.C., Rompkey, P.C. and Watt (8).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 21, 2007, the committee continued its study on issues relating to the federal government's current and evolving policy framework for managing Canada's fisheries and oceans.
WITNESSES:
As Individuals:
Bob Applebaum;
Scott Parsons;
Earl Wiseman.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada:
David Bevan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management;
Sylvie Lapointe, Head, International Relations.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Parsons, Mr. Applebaum and Mr. Wiseman each made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:27 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:31 p.m., the committee resumed.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Bevan made a statement and answered questions.
At 9 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Lynn Gordon
Clerk of the Committee